Pathogen Biology

Researchers can grow and store SARS-Cov-2 for experimental studies. Real-time sequencing enables rapid contact tracing, assessment as to whether SARS-Cov-2 is evolving and whether the sequence has an impact on the severity of disease, develop a better understanding host risk factors for acquiring the virus and developing severe disease.

Ongoing Projects

Prof Julian Hiscox is developing rapid approaches for sequencing SARS-CoV-2 in samples from patients as well as validating animal models for vaccine development and medical countermeasures. With Profs Al Darby and Steve Patterson in the Centre for Genomic Research (CGR) at the University of Liverpool, his laboratory are part of a PHE funded collaboration to provide virus sequencing for transmission studies in real time. His team are also working on samples from the CCP-UK study.